No 3 (2025)
Articles
Features of Psychological Well-being and Basic needs satisfaction depending on the degree of Loneliness experience
Abstract
Psychological well-being and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs are key indicators of mental health and personal resilience. The relevance of this study stems from the need to identify factors influencing these indicators amid the growing phenomenon of social loneliness. Loneliness is associated with deficits in relatedness, lowered self-esteem, reduced motivation, and diminished psychological integration, making it a critical issue for psychological prevention. The study aims to identify differences in levels of psychological well-being and basic psychological needs satisfaction among individuals with varying degrees of loneliness, as well as to establish correlations between these variables. The sample consisted of 216 participants aged 19 to 60, of whom 91.7% were women and 8.3% were men. The following psychological assessment tools were used: Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (RPWB), the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale (BPNSS), Beck’s Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Loneliness Experience Questionnaire (Manakova). Statistical analysis included the Shapiro–Wilk test, the Mann–Whitney U-test, and Cronbach’s alpha for reliability estimation. Statistically significant differences were found in psychological well-being and basic needs satisfaction between groups with moderate and high levels of loneliness. Individuals with higher loneliness scores demonstrated notably lower indicators across all well-being and needs satisfaction scales. Positive correlations were also found between the satisfaction of basic needs and all components of psychological well-being. The study is the first to reveal statistically confirmed differences in psychological well-being and basic needs satisfaction depending on the degree of loneliness. The novelty lies in establishing the role of basic needs as mediators in the negative psychological impact of loneliness. The findings confirm that the intensity of loneliness has a broadly negative effect on psychological functioning, reducing internal resilience, motivation, and social adaptability. Satisfaction of basic needs—especially autonomy and relatedness—serves as a protective factor supporting well-being. The results can inform the development of psychological support programs aimed at strengthening internal resources and preventing emotional disturbances associated with loneliness.
Psychologist. 2025;(3):1-13
1-13
The structure of an individual's defensive behavior in a difficult life situation (based on examples from Mariupol and Saint Petersburg)
Abstract
Currently, the problem of an individual overcoming the consequences of experiencing a complex (difficult) life situation, including the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is extremely relevant, especially in connection with the ongoing Special Military Operation (SMO) and other socio-psychological factors. The subject of the study is the psychological patterns associated with being in a difficult (complex, stressful) life situation. The object of the study is students of the A.I. Kuindzhi Mariupol State University and Herzen State Pedagogical University (St. Petersburg). The aim of this work is to clarify the relationship between the degree of risk for developing PTSD in a difficult life situation associated with being in a war zone, coping strategies, defense mechanisms, and other manifestations of personality, including sleep and dream characteristics, as well as to identify relevant differences between residents of Mariupol and St. Petersburg. Within the framework of the study, methods of testing, surveying, mathematical statistics, and interpretation were used. Among the methodologies used are: PTSD screening questionnaire; A. Lazarus's "Coping Strategies" methodology; M. Bond's Psychological Defense Structure Questionnaire; the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The results obtained confirm the conclusions drawn in the framework of the pilot study, according to which a high risk of developing PTSD is interconnected with the “flight-avoidance” strategy and non-adaptive defense mechanisms, while, conversely, the development of personal agency is related to mature coping strategies and defense mechanisms. The study also shows that residents of Mariupol who have experienced life in a war zone, in general, and particularly those who have chosen a professional trajectory in psychology, have developed an adaptive coping model for dealing with the stressors of a difficult (complex) life situation (compared to residents of St. Petersburg). Practical significance: The results of the study can be used both in the practice of psychological correction of personality and educational work, as well as in the field of applied social psychology.
Psychologist. 2025;(3):14-39
14-39
Comparative analysis of cultural and psychological differences in the personalities of modern adolescents.
Abstract
The question of ethnic identity remains relevant for the research community. Contemporary studies focus on examining the ethnic identity of individuals, as well as identifying cultural and psychological differences and changes in identity throughout a person's life. This article presents the results of an empirical study on the structure of ethnic identity among adolescents from Moscow, Stavropol (Russia), and Ismailly (Azerbaijan). The subject of the study is the cultural and psychological differences in the structure of ethnic identity among modern adolescents included in different social environments. The aim of the article is to theoretically substantiate and empirically reveal the cultural and psychological differences in the structure of ethnic identity among contemporary adolescents living in different regions of Russia and in Azerbaijan. The object of the study is the structure of personal ethnic identity. Research methods: theoretical analysis, observation, formative experiment, psychodiagnostic methods and questionnaires, mathematical methods: two-way analysis of variance, Student's t-tests, Pearson's chi-square test. The empirical base of the research includes 295 adolescents (students in grades 6-8): 121 adolescents from Moscow, 45 adolescents from Stavropol, and 129 adolescents from Ismailly. The significant scientific novelty of this study lies in determining the cultural differences in the structure of personal ethnic identity as influenced by the cultural environment, identifying both common (characteristic of all groups) and specific (characteristic of a particular group) relationships. Conclusions: It has been confirmed that the cultural environment surrounding an adolescent significantly influences the indicators of personal ethnic identity: among adolescents from the ethnically diverse environments of Moscow and Stavropol, a positive type of ethnic identity predominates, which is substantively reflected in the behavioral component. Among adolescents from Ismailly, there is a pronounced ethno-egoism, ethno-isolationism, and ethno-fanaticism, alongside a confirmed high level of anxiety and social distancing, which also relate to the indicators of the behavioral component. The level of suspicion among adolescents from Ismailly, as manifested in the behavioral component of personal ethnic identity, is significantly higher than that of adolescents from the cultural environments of Moscow and Stavropol. The area of application of the research results: possible for the development of educational and social programs aimed at fostering constructive interethnic interaction.
Psychologist. 2025;(3):40-52
40-52
Hierarchy of methodological features of metaphorical associative cards
Abstract
Object of the study: methodology of art-therapeutic practices. Subject of the study: methodological foundations of metaphorical associative cards. The purpose of the article is to identify the hierarchy of methodological features of metaphorical associative cards. Metaphorical associative cards have become firmly established in the practice of psychotherapeutic work of psychologists. However, their methodological features in scientific and psychological research are clearly not sufficiently described and developed. The types of metaphorical associative cards have a significant variety and are constantly expanding. Due to this, they have found wide application in practice, allowing to enrich training and consulting work with children and youth. The main functions of the cards are psychotherapeutic and psychodiagnostic, they contribute to the search for an individual way out of crisis situations. The materials of the analysis are publications of recent years devoted to various aspects of the analysis and practice of metaphorical associative cards. The article is based on the categorical-systemic methodology. As research methods were used theoretical analysis and synthesis. The materials of the analysis were publications of recent years devoted to various aspects of the analysis of the theory and practice of MAC. The novelty of the research lie in identification of hierarchical determinants of the methodological foundations of metaphorical associative cards as a means of psychotherapy. When considering the methodological features of metaphorical associative cards, one should rely on technologies inherent in art therapy. Such support contributes to the creation of new techniques, methods and decks of metaphorical associative cards for solving vital problems of clients. Reliance on creativity and goal-setting when working with metaphorical associative cards seems important.
Psychologist. 2025;(3):53-63
53-63
Meaningful orientations in life as a factor influencing the formation of students’ hardness: a review of foreign and domestic literature
Abstract
The article is devoted to an important and urgent problem of the modern world - the peculiarities of the formation of resilience. Resilience is one of the most important personal constructs that influence successful adaptation and self-realization of an individual. In a situation of inevitable changes, there is also the development and change of other personal constructs that are necessary for successful self-realization of a person. These include life-meaning orientations that have a huge impact on the worldview of an individual. The main research methods were chosen: analysis, generalization and systematization of theoretical-empirical, philosophical-pedagogical and methodological studies of foreign and domestic authors on the problem of the formation of resilience of an individual and its relationship with other psychological constructs. When considering the factors influencing the formation of resilience during the student period of life, the authors identified specific features characteristic of individuals with high and low levels of resilience. This article reveals the inconsistency of understanding the concept of "life-meaning orientations" among foreign and domestic authors. Based on the results of the analysis, attempts were made to concretize the key concepts: "resilient", "life-meaning orientations". The problem of the formation and development of resilience among students is closely related to the formation of life-meaning orientations of young people. In a rapidly changing world, the beliefs and goals of young people can be unstable and misunderstood. At the present stage, it is necessary to create new forms and methods of influence that would contribute to the development of meaningful life orientations, which would have a positive effect on the formation of resilience.
Psychologist. 2025;(3):64-82
64-82